NEET-UG scam: CBI court denies bail to Godhra school trustee

Ahmedabad: A special CBI court here on Tuesday rejected the regular bail application filed by Dixit Patel, the chairman of Jay Jalaram Education Trust, in connection with the alleged NEET-UG scam in Godhra.In his order, special judge M R Chaudhary noted in detail the conspiracy involving co-accused in the case, charging high amounts from students to increase their NEET scores by tampering with OMR sheets. The court noted, "The role of the applicant (Patel) herein is that he was also a member of the conspiracy hatched between co-accused persons. The investigation of the case qua the applicant herein is still in progress and the release of the applicant on bail at this stage would hamper the investigation."The court further said, "In the interest of fair and just investigation, it does not seem reasonable, at this stage, to hamper the process of investigation. Grant of bail at this stage of investigation may frustrate the investigating agency in collecting the useful information and also the materials which might have been concealed."The court also said that Patel might tamper with evidence if released on bail and that he would "definitely dissuade" the witnesses from stating information which is within their knowledge.While Patel had claimed innocence in this case, the probe agency argued that its probe has revealed that a larger conspiracy exists involving inter-state links in the NEET-UG exam-related irregularities. It has come to the fore that Overseas Services (M/S Pathway) played a major role in influencing students to opt for the Godhra centre, and its role also surfaced in the investigation in another CBI FIR in Latur, Maharashtra, the CBI stated in its reply.Patel was arrested by the CBI on June 29 and was remanded for custodial interrogation. His was the first arrest by the CBI after the Gujarat police arrested five persons in May and June before the CBI took over the investigation in this case. MSID:: 112660854 413 |